BS EN 12606-1:2015

What is BS EN 12606-1 - Determination of Paraffin wax content of bitumen and bituminous binder about?  

BS EN 12606 is a series of the European standard on bitumen and bituminous binder material for building construction that is used to hold solid particles together. 

BS EN 12606-1 is the first part of the BS EN 12606 series of documents that specifies a procedure for determining the paraffin wax content of bitumen and bituminous binder by the DIN method. 

Note 1: Aqueous bituminous binders, fluxed or cut-back anhydrous binders, and modified binders, whatever their consistency, are not within the scope of the present test method. 

Note 2: Use of BS EN 12606 can involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment.  

Note 3: BS EN 12606 does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use.  

Note 4: It is the responsibility of the user of BS EN 12606 to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 

Who is BS EN 12606-1 - Determination of Paraffin wax content of bitumen and bituminous binder for? 

BS EN 12606-1 on bitumen and bituminous binders is useful for: 

• Builders 
• Civil engineers 
• Manufacturers of binders and bituminous products 
• Manufacturers of paraffin waxes and petroleum products 

Why should you use BS EN 12606-1 - Determination of Paraffin wax content of bitumen and bituminous binder?  

Wax in bitumen has for a long time been of great interest, particularly regarding effects on bitumen quality. Paraffin wax present in bitumen is determined in the distillate obtained from a specified distillation process. 

The specifications for the reagents, materials, and equipment used in the test to evaluate the paraffin wax content of bitumen and bituminous binder are specified in BS EN 12606-1. To ensure the testing of binders, BS EN 12606-1 specifies test samples and test procedures. As a result of this process, lighter crude oil components such as gasoline and diesel are removed, leaving only the heavier bitumen. As a result, the producer is able to improve the grade, often refining it multiple times. 

The calculation, expression of results, precision and test report on paraffin wax content are all set out in BS EN 12606-1. 

Overall, BS EN 12606-1 provides a thorough explanation of the field of knowledge about wax in bitumen and its influence on bitumen quality. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS EN 12606-1:2015 supersedes BS EN 12606-1:2007. BS EN 12606-1:2015 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 12606-1:2007. These include: 

• The standard has been revised due to a normative reference to mercury thermometers 
• The terms “sample thermometer” and “bath thermometer” have been changed, as a consequence, to “sample temperature transducer” and “bath temperature transducer” respectively in some subparagraphs of Clause 8.